Mark Cacciatore

Born in 1954, Mark Cacciatore was raised in Tampa. He says that his grandparents emigrated from Sicily, Spain, and Cuba to work in Tampa’s booming cigar industry. His paternal grandfather, Angelo, immigrated to Tampa from Santo Stefano in Sicily in 1896 to meet his four brothers who had already opened Cacciatore Brothers grocery store and meat market.

Over the years the brothers branched out from the original store to open other businesses in Tampa such as Cacciatore Meat Packers and Frontier Meat Packers. In 1953 Mark’s grandfather, Silvestro opened Cacciatore and Sons in Ybor City with his brother Ignacio, and their sons Frank and Angelo (Mark’s father). By 1966 with the decline of the cigar industry, the brothers moved the store to its current location in West Tampa. In 1976, Mark was playing music as a percussionist when his father was involved in a traumatic car accident. Mark, being the only son, took over the business for his father.

Date of interview:

February 11, 2015

Interviewer:

Sara Wood

Photographer:

Sara Wood

I call the people from Tampa Tampanians, because the real Tampanian is like me: Cuban, Spanish, and Italian mixed. One day I eat yellow rice and chicken and the next day I eat spaghetti and meatballs. ~ Mark Cacciatore